Solomon personifies God’s wisdom as the discerning (and fired-up) female voice of Wisdom. She’s expressing her righteous anger that “fools” haven’t been listening. At first glance, the text is full of energetic rebuke, and it seems as if calamity is inevitable. But what first appears as harsh judgment may actually have another layer to it. Elsewhere in Proverbs, Wisdom is speaking again and explains that “whoever finds me, finds life and obtains favor from the LORD” (Prov. 8:35). She isn’t just arbitrarily angry; she’s passionate. She knows that healthy, abundant life is not possible without wisdom. Driven by the love of a concerned parent, Wisdom knows that our unwise actions, words, and choices have painful consequences. Her anger has the ring of a lament—and one of the beautiful truths of lament is that often a declaration of hope is found at the end. This is no different: “But those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease without dread of disaster.” The passage lands softly, in an encouraging invitation.

Where we may have ignored the call for wise living, we are now once again being invited to take notice. Whether it be, for example, in a particular relationship, with our finances, how we treat our body, how we navigate our sexuality, or how we traverse anger—we are bidden to make wise choices that create safety (for us and those around us). And if we don’t quite know how to do that—wise people learn to ask for help. One of the most discerning things we can say is: “I don’t know how to do that.”